Many companies and organizations invest money, time and resources into developing and executing their external communications strategies, but little of that energy is devoted to fostering communications within the organization itself. Even when they eventually decide to improve communication among employees, they usually make superficial changes, such as providing a mission statement, goals and a newsletter, that do not foster open communication by themselves.

Develop the Right Climate

Developing the right climate is one of the first steps to take when aiming to foster open communication within an organization. Organizational leaders should devise mission and vision statements that remind employees of the organization's core goals and values. Employees become more empowered and proactive once they are clear about each other's and the organization's expectations, and often their internal relations improve as a result.

Invest in Staff Training and Hiring

Invest time and resources in training the staff on proper communication techniques. Organizations that want to cultivate open communication among their employees should introduce training sessions that transmit expectations to employees and give them the time to get acclimated to a new mode of operating. Organizations should also invest in attracting new employees with the skill sets that will contribute to the new climate of open communications.

Lead by Example

Most attempts to foster open communications will fail unless the organization's management leads by example. One mistake management can make is not handling all employee disputes, complaints, suggestions and issues quickly and appropriately. Management should also treat every employee as a valuable member of the organization and be sensitive to cultural differences.

Plan Social Events

If employees are going to be more open with each other, they should have regular opportunities to socialize. Social gatherings take the form of office picnics, holiday parties and planned outings. Even the regular staff meetings can enhance communication between employees if they feel more involved in planning the agenda, contributing topics for discussion, providing their input and interacting socially with others.

About the Author

Chika Nwaka started writing professionally in 2010. She writes for eHow and specializes in education and fashion-related topics. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California-Los Angeles and is pursuing a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.